Egg-tray.



D. D. GRANGER.

EGG TRAY.

APYLIUATION FILED MAR. 31, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1,1910.

a, if i DANUS D. GRANGER, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO.

nee-TRAY.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, DANUS D. GRANGER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of New London, in the county of I-Iuron and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Trays, of whichI hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to pro vide an egg crate or package infolding or hinged portions so designed that one portion shall serve thepurpose of a cover for the other portion, and both portions shall serveas receptacles for the eggs, and form together a convenient, simple andattractive means for conveying eggs.

On account of the brittleness of their shells the eggs are confined inseparate pockets in each portion of the crate, and to make theirdelivery from their several pockets easily accomplished without handlingthem and therefore without danger of breaking them an intermediate leaveor leaves are interposed between the folded sections, upon which theeggs in the upper portion will lie when the upper portion is thrown backupon its hinge. In this manner displaying them, and rendering themeasily accessible for handling.

The invention further consists in the combination and arrangement ofparts as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thefolding crate; Fig. 2 is a vertical central section therethrough,showing the upper portion or member raised in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is asimilar section of a crate having a modified form of intermediatereceiving leaf for displaying the eggs when the upper portion or memberis raised; Fig. 4: is a plan view of one hinged portion or member; Fi 5is a perspective view of a modified form of intermediate leaf providedwith openings in which the extreme ends of. the eggs can rest and thusprevent them from rolling.

In these views 1, 1 are receptacles for eggs, and together they form thecomponent portions or members of one egg crate, and are hinged togetherat 2, so as to fold upon each other, a fastening device 3 is employed toretain them together during shipment.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Seria1 No. 487,034.

Each member is p 'ovided with partitions 4:, 4 arranged to form pocketsadapted to separate their shells from contact with each other and toform practically tight receptacles, so that the eggs can not roll aroundand in the crate. The partitions should not be loose in the cratemembers, but must preferably move with them when they are lifted in turnto discharge the eggs.

Intermediate between the crate members and hinged to the common pintlerod 2, is shown the leaf 5, upon which the eggs will fall by gravityfrom their pockets in whatever crate member happens to be uppermost. Sothat when that member is raised the eggs from that member will be uponit and can be easily removed therefrom. When the crate is turned overthe eggs in the other crate member will fall upon the leaf in the samemanner.

Any desired means for temporarily retaining the eggs on the leaf can beemployed, so that they will be in no danger of rolling ofi and becomingbroken while the cover portion or member is being raised and still bewithin the spirit of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the intermediate leaf or leaves 5, 5, are shownprovided with raised flanges 6, 6, exterior to the edges of the cratemembers. These edges are shown also correspondingly beveled, at 7, 7 toreceive the flanges, so that a smooth and attractive appearance isobserved, in the case, and the edges of the flanges are flush with outeredges of the crate members. These flanges serve to retain the eggs uponthe leaf.

In Fig. 3 the leaf is shown without flanges and inclosed within the box.This leaf will drop a little below the hinge center and rest upon thetops of the partitions. In this manner the edges of the crate members at9, 9, will extend above the leaf in either member that is down, and forma raised edge to protect the eggs. Under ordinary circumstances thiswill be suflicient.

A hinged leaf or leaves such as shown in Fig. 5 can be used if desired,provided with small openings 10 in which the eggs can rest in thevertical position. One of the advantages of this device is that theparts are all attached to each other and therefore can be used over andover again, without the renewal of any of the parts. A loosenon-attached leaf could however be interposed between the members,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The bottom B for each crate member-is preferably formed ofthin materialsuch as card board and provided with openings C in which the eggs rest.The bottom is raised above the lower edge of each member so that therewill be no danger of the eggs striking the surface on which the cratestands.

The walls of the crate will isolate them from the support for the crate.

The bottoms are supported and strengthened in the crate members by meansof one or more wires IV, which pass through the crate walls.

Either one or two intervening leaves 5 can be employed as desired. It ishowever more convenient to employ twoleaves face to face, since the eggscan be more easily held back by two leaves when opening the crate.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

' 1. In anegg crate, egg receptacle members hinged together and designedto become alternately upper and lower members, a leaf having a commonhinge axis therewith, said leaf adapted to support the eggs deliveredfrom said members in turn, when either becomes anupper member andinstrumentalities operating in unison with said leaf to retain the eggsthereon, when the upper member is lifted on its hinge.

2. In an egg crate upper and lower crate members hinged together, anintermediate leaf between said members and flanged edges for said leaf,said flanged edges being arranged exterior to the walls of said cratemembers.

3. In an egg crate, folding crate members, an intermediate leaf, betweensaid members, a common hinge for said leaf and crate members, partitionsforming pockets in said crate members, perforated bottoms, spaced fromedges of said crate walls, and supporting wires for said bottoms securedin said crate walls substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of March,1909.

DANUS D. GRANGER.

In presence of- G150. S. COLE, "VM. II. MONROE.

